Vera Chinese

Vera Chinese has been the editor of northforker.com and northforker magazines since May 2014.
Prior to that she spent two and a half years as a staff reporter for the New York Daily News.
She joined the Riverhead News-Review as a staff writer in January 2010 and was named Associate Web Editor nine months later.
She previously worked for the Southampton Press Western Edition and was named the third place 2008 Rookie Reporter of the Year by the New York Press Association. She graduated from Wagner College in 2006 where she received a bachelor's degree in English. She earned a master's degree in English education from New York University in 2007.
She is a 2002 graduate of Eastport High School and has lived on the East End for more than 20 years.

Organic local food enthusiasts can now incorporate wine into that lifestyle.

Anthony Nappa Wines released Bordo Antico last month, the first certified organic wine grown and produced on Long Island. It’s also the first certified organic vitis vinifera — meaning common wine grape variety — bottle grown and produced in all of New York State.

The gorgeous English lavender is expected to bloom at Lavender by the Bay this weekend, a stunning occurrence that draws thousands to the East Marion lavender farm every summer.

While Orient and East Marion residents and business owners have complained of road congestion during the bloom, this year the farm’s owner has removed one acre of plants to add 100 parking spots. The farm previously had 65 spots.

A pair of Shelter Island restaurateurs are bringing their brand of laid-back waterfront dining across the moat.

Keith and Ali Bavaro recently opened PORT Waterfront Bar and Grill on Greenport’s Third Street. It’s an offshoot of Shelter Island’s SALT, which they also own. There you will find steamed clams, lobster rolls and burgers which you can enjoy while overlooking the North Ferry and Greenport Harbor.

While many people might be wrestling with this weed in their garden right now, the dandelion was celebrated at KK’s The Farm this weekend.

A Dandelion Festival, now in its second year, was held at the Southold farm on Sunday, April 23. The festival featured lectures, dandelion food products, a wreath-making station and more.

The event was intended to “raise people’s awareness about the benefits of the dandelion as food medicine and herb,” said farm owner and event organizer Ira Haspel. He said he’d like to see people think twice before applying harmful pesticides to the ground to kill the flower. READ